Chapter 1438: Chapter 1438: The Missing Number
The Ghost Market bustled with activity, far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
Even though dawn was approaching, the Ghost Market remained crowded.
Sellers were eloquently advertising their wares, buyers were haggling relentlessly, the scene even livelier than during the evening.
“Hey monk, why are you following ?” A monk dressed in a Taoist robe, holding a string of Buddha Beads in his hand, impatiently waved at the Taoist in a monk’s robe behind him. “I… I invited you to eat, I invited you to drink, yet you’re still following ?”
“Seven Star Arhat, you’re wearing my clothes!” The Taoist, with a head full of black hair, was dressed in an ill-fitting monk’s robe and carried a rusted iron sword in his hand.
Anyone who didn’t know better might think he was a lay disciple.
“Is everyone from the West Sea this unreasonable?” The Taoist looked helpless.
“The West Sea believes in persuading people with virtue.” Seven Star Arhat stopped, turned his head, and added, “Should the other party refuse to listen, I have no choice but to liberate them. Truly, I envy those people who can attain ultimate bliss.”
As he spoke, his gaze carried a sense of longing.
A false sense of longing.
“I agree with persuading people with virtue.” The Iron Sword Taoist nodded and chuckled, “After all, your two senior brothers tried to reform their opponents, but ended up liberating themselves instead.”
“Iron Sword!” Seven Star Arhat roared, his face showing displeasure. “If it weren’t for the mission, I would’ve settled this with you properly!”
The death of the Arhat of the Firmant and the Arhat of Homicide was regarded as a disgrace to the West Sea!
The divine beings of the West Sea were so enraged that they nearly personally went to the North Sea to annihilate Everton Davenport!
But due to an agreent to compete with the demon Taoists of the East Sea, the matter had to be postponed.
After all, the struggle between the monks and the Taoists was the real deal.
However, the two Arhats’ deaths remained a thorn in the West Sea’s throat. ntioning it would cause nothing but nausea!
An utter humiliation!
Their attempt at reforming had not succeeded but had backfired instead!
“Then return my clothes, and I’ll leave on my own.” The Iron Sword Taoist extended his hand and grinned. “Also, a dry-cleaning fee, please. You’re so dirty that I’ll need to give them a serious wash!”
“Stop arguing!” Seven Star Arhat grew impatient. “Once we catch that woman, I’ll return your clothes to you.”
“Why?” The Iron Sword Taoist looked puzzled.
He’d co from the East Sea under the orders of the demon Taoists to investigate matters related to the Divine Dragon Tripod in Swimming City.
After the Divine Dragon Tripod was seized, the North Sea seemingly declared it to the entire world.
Within half a day, the news had already spread far and wide.
Like anyone else, the demon Taoists of the East Sea, who spent years refining elixirs, desired the Divine Dragon Tripod no less.
But the Iron Sword Taoist hadn’t expected that upon arriving in Swimming City, he’d encounter Seven Star Arhat of the West Sea.
Monks and Taoists were like water and oil, and the divine beings of the West Sea clashed with the demon Taoists of the East Sea annually in multiple competitions.
For decades, neither side had ever erged victorious.
Being sworn enemies, their subordinates naturally held grudges too. They fought whenever they t.
The Iron Sword Taoist and Seven Star Arhat sparred for hours, unable to determine a winner before finally exchanging outfits as a testant to their skirmish.
Despite their animosity, they shared one similarity.
Poverty!
Fortunately, Seven Star Arhat had managed to swindle so Swimming City Currency at the Cloud Pavilion, allowing the two of them to indulge themselves.
The monk and the Taoist had been sound asleep.
But in the middle of the night, Seven Star Arhat suddenly received a call from his senior, the Five Peaks Arhat, and promptly made his way to the Ghost Market.
The Iron Sword Taoist hadn’t reclaid his clothes yet, so he was forced to tag along.
“Iron Sword Taoist, there are things that are better left unknown to you.” Seven Star Arhat threaded his way through the crowd, arriving at the plaza where Solaris Grove was suspended, and studied his surroundings.
The area had lost its gathering onlookers.
In the plaza, several Ghost Market mbers were vigilantly monitoring the surroundings and guarding the dangling North Sea General.
The surrounding din contrasted sharply with the plaza’s eerie quietness.
After confirming that Solaris Grove remained suspended in the plaza, Seven Star Arhat swiftly vanished, hidden among the crowd.
His senior brother, Five Peaks Arhat, had called to share news from the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance’s inspector: the possessor of the Divine Dragon Tripod was set to co for the rescue.
Obviously.
Given the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance’s typically hardline stance, Five Peaks Arhat hadn’t co to the plaza himself.
What if this was a trap, and the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance intended to harm them?
That’s why Seven Star Arhat had co.
And why he’d brought along the Iron Sword Taoist.
“Are you sure soone’s coming?” Gabriel Young sat across Julius Reed amidst the bustling Ghost Market.
Both of them wore veils, seated at a street-side restaurant with steaming bowls of noodles before them.
The Ghost Market, established by Lord Ghost Seven, encompassed living essentials in an expansive Swimming City gacomplex.
It offered everything imaginable—street food, treasures, and even rare animals.
If you had money, you could buy anything here, except life and ti.
Julius Reed raised his head, picked up his chopsticks, and glanced toward the plaza.
“Trust , they’ll co. But the ones coming won’t be beads or Five Peaks Arhat. That lot is far too cunning.”
Saying this, he folded his veil and took a bite of noodles.
“Tasty, give it a try.”
Though this open-air noodle shop wasn’t very near the plaza, it wasn’t far either.
Its clear field of vision allowed for spotting anyone attempting to approach the plaza.
The monk and Taoist just now had already entered their sights.
“Thanks, but I’m not hungry yet.” Gabriel Young couldn’t summon the appetite for noodles.
The Azure Emperor’s ancient tomb was on the verge of opening, an event tied to her family’s destiny.
The fact that the inspector was dragging her out to watch this midnight drama—it was enough to give Gabriel Young a headache.
Just hours ago, Julius had been lying faint like a dead dog, yet as soon as he woke, he was thinking of fighting again.
Was peace for a mont too much to ask?
Publicly killing Shay Bread had already drawn the Cook Family’s attention, offending many others in the process.
It was as if Julius Reed truly feared nothing!
Gabriel Young sighed deeply.
The re fact that this inspector was still alive was remarkable.
“They’re here.” Julius Reed set his chopsticks down, nonchalantly gazing at the edge of the plaza.
A group of people advanced slowly toward the plaza.
The man leading them was dressed in snow-white, holding a paper fan.
His entourage carried long knives, exuding an aura of nace.
As Julius Reed took in the man’s face, he suddenly laughed.
“Interesting! Really interesting! No wonder it’s Isabella Warm—her style hasn’t changed one bit.” Julius picked up his chopsticks and resud eating.
Gabriel Young kept her eyes fixed on the plaza, never once looking away.
The mont this group appeared, she’d noticed them.
“Is that the new Chief Steward of the Ghost Market?”
As one of Swimming City’s established noble families, the Youngs had their own intelligence networks.
A change as significant as appointing a new Chief Steward of the Ghost Market was naturally within her knowledge.
The information on this new Chief Steward, however, was limited to one decent photo and the na Elaenor Wood. All else was a blank.
It was as though he had sprung forth fully-ford from a crack in the stone.
“Correct, the new Chief Steward. Isabella Warm is very crafty; she notified the Ghost Market, intending to turn the situation to her advantage. At this point, anyone who dares step forward would be walking to their death.”
Lord Ghost Seven’s thods were notoriously ruthless, and the plaza was his territory within the Ghost Market. Most importantly, Isabella Warm had already reached an agreent with Lord Ghost Seven upon arriving in Swimming City.
Through Lord Ghost Seven, publicly interrogating Solaris Grove was indeed a clever plan.
“You miscalculated.”
Gabriel Young cast Julius Reed a aningful glance and spoke faintly.
Initially, it was expected that Isabella Warm would personally co to confirm the death of Pendleton, the Alliance Hierarch.
anwhile, the West Sea would attempt to capture Isabella Warm and use her as the Bead Pulse Vein Holder to trade for the Divine Dragon Tripod.
But now, the West Sea showed no sign of movent, and Isabella Warm hadn’t co.
Instead, Elaenor Wood had arrived.
“How could I have miscalculated?”
Julius Reed understood Gabriel Young’s rationale.
This world was full of diocrity.
If everyone were as excellent as he was, why would the Saint Master be Julius Reed and not Jericho Reed?
“Isn’t this just the Ghost Market’s Chief Steward? One call from , and he’ll leave imdiately.” Julius Reed unlocked his phone with confidence.
A little favor like this—Elaenor Wood was sure to oblige.
Under Gabriel Young’s slightly expectant and curious gaze, Julius Reed froze mid-action.
Wait…
Had he forgotten to save Elaenor Wood’s number?
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